The importance of these roads and bridges can only be understood if we remember that there was no access to the oilfields of Aguleri before now from Anambra State.
It could only be accessed through Enugu State.
Similarly, we have concluded plans to pipe ATK (aviation fuel) from the Orient Petroleum Refinery to the proposed cargo Airport in Umueri where a storage facility w be built for it.
The idea is for the airport to serve as a major hub for the re-fuelling of international flights in West Africa.
We have since flagged off the construction of three dual-carriage ways that will open up access to the proposed airport from three strategic directions – Umueri, Awkuzu and Nteje axis.
Delving into some Key Enablers, the governor noted that “the Enablers are the basic foundation upon which the Four Pillars of Development stand.
There are 12 of them but I am constrained by time to give you an update on only a few of them, beginning with;
ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE –
Ndi Anambra, the two flyovers in Awka and the one in Amawbia speak eloquently of our ambition to give our state the 21st Century capital it deserves.
The gleaming Kwata Bridge is not only a beauty to behold but a monument to the pride of our people.
Similarly, we have built two bridges and a 5-Cell Culvert in Awgbu-Ndiukwuenu-Awa-Ufuma axis and asphalted over 102 roads.
And I want to put it on record that there is no single road we inherited from my predecessor that we have abandoned.
Things may have slowed down a bit because of the state of the economy but we have not abandoned any projects in Anambra State.
Education:
Our achievements in the Educational Sector have been outstanding in the past three years. Essentially, we approach education in three broad areas – infrastructural development, pupils/students development, and teachers’ welfare.
Under my watch, we have maintained our enviable position in all external examinations like WASC, NECO and JAMB examinations.
Indeed, Anambra children took the world by storm when they took the Bronze Medal in the World Schools Debate Championship in Singapore last year.
In January this year again, they emerged winners of the Mock Debate Contest held in Singapore to prepare the finalists participating in this year’s edition of the World Schools Debate Championship holding in Germany.
This same team is the current champion in Nigeria, having defeated other debate teams from the 36 states of the federation.
Indeed, our educational exploits are on all fronts. In 2015 Anambra swept the medals table at the Presidential Schools Awards.
Teachers from the state won various awards while the state won the Best Overall Senior Secondary School in Nigeria and the Best Junior Secondary School and the 2nd Best Primary School; a feat no other state has ever achieved.
We take the Welfare of Teachers very seriously in Anambra State. As some of you may well recall, my father was a Teacher.
So, my administration does not joke with teachers.
In fact, in March last year, we sent 23 teachers to an offshore training in Singapore to update themselves in global best practices that will help our children.
We also pay incentives of 20% of basic salary to teachers who teach in hard-to-reach areas and those who teach core sciences and Igbo Language.
Meanwhile, we have increased the subventions of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University and Nwafor Orizu College of education, Nsugbe to N150m and N90m respectively.
In addition, we also set a new standard when we ensured that the College of Medicine of Odumegwu Ojukwu University gained full accreditation and went further to give automatic employment to the set of pioneer medical doctors who graduated this year after spending 10 years pursuing a medical degree in the university.
Ana akukwa aka ebea?
Indeed, we have continued to fund education in the state.
We have disbursed the sum of N733 million to mission schools, renovated 1000 units of 10-classroom blocks and awarded scholarships estimated at N30 million to over 200 students.
We would have done more but for the bleak state of the economy.
HEALTH:
We have adopted an ambitious approach to healthcare in Anambra State.
